Spring 2012

From The President

As you dive into this edition of Raising Money, you’ll quickly pick up on our campaign theme. We couldn’t help but focus on the topic as the spring air seems to be filled with talk of campaign plans as people are emerging from the fog of the bad economy.

Whether your organization is considering a campaign at the moment or already has one in full swing, we’ll offer some guidance on campaign preparation and planning and also provide you a real-world example of a nonprofit approaching a campaign in the “right way.”

We hope your spring is off to a great start and, as always, thank you for reading. If we can help your organization with campaign planning or otherwise, please be in touch.

W. Keith Curtis, President

Preparing for an Effective Capital Campaign

Wendy McGrady, Vice President

We’ve been talking a lot lately about campaigns as many nonprofits seem to be turning their focus back to ones they had put on hold until the economy improved or to new ones that they are now ready to launch. In fact, according to our poll that followed The Curtis Group’s recent webinar on effective capital campaigns, the vast majority of participants were currently considering a major campaign. For us, this confirms a lot of what we’re seeing in our daily work. Nonprofits seem to be regaining optimism in their ability to raise major gifts,but at the same time they are approaching their planning with a sense of caution and desire for ultimate preparedness. So, as our webinar title inquired, “What Makes an Effective Campaign?” We offer the following considerations to determine whether your organization is ready.

Top Lessons Learned: Campaign Advice from Nonprofit Executives

Wesley Stanley, Marketing Director and Campaign Consultant

Last week at the Virginia Association of Museums’ Annual Conference, Keith and Wendy presented a session on capital campaigns, followed by an engaging panel discussion among three nonprofit executives.  This learned panel of museum executives comprised of Page Hayhurst, executive director,Virginia Living Museum; Laura Vaughan, executive director, Barrier Islands Center; and Annie Vogt, director of the Educational Foundation, Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, shared their observations, advice and stories from their own campaign experiences. Here are their top lessons learned.

Barrier Islands Center: A Young Organization Making Big Strides

Lauren Fenn, Campaign and Communications Manager

It’s hard to believe that the Barrier Islands Center only opened its doors in 2002.  In just under a decade, the cultural center, which showcases Virginia’s unique coastal history (Almshouse pictured above) through free exhibits and serves as a gathering place for the Eastern Shore community, has achieved some pretty significant accomplishments. When we talk about running a textbook campaign or cite examples of how a campaign can jump-start an organization’s annual fundraising, Barrier Islands Center is a perfect case study. 

Nonprofit News

• The Curtis Group is proud to be assisting the Hampton Roads Community Foundation with its Building Excellence program for the fifth year and would like to congratulate the 2012 recipients: Eggleston Services, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia, Tidewater Winds, and The Judeo-Christian Outreach Center. The five-year program began in 2008 and has since helped 16 area nonprofits. According to the Foundation, “Between 2008 and 2010 nonprofits receiving technical assistance from The Curtis Group through the Capacity Building grants have increased their total contributed income over their base year of operation by over $2.3 million; a $9 to $1 return on investment.”
• The Curtis Group is pleased to be assisting Chesapeake Humane Society with their campaign after having just completed a campaign planning study for the organization.
• The Barrier Islands Center has now surpassed $2 million towards their $2.6 million campaign goal after having recently received the $1 million Batten Endowment Challenge.
• For valuable fundraising tips, up-to-the-minute nonprofit news, and the latest research on philanthropy, be sure to follow The Curtis Group on Facebook and Twitter. And in between newsletters, you might find our blog helpful, too.

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